APT invests to support lock part production
1 min read
APT Leicester has installed two new Star SR-10J sliding head lathes at its Groby headquarters in Leicester.
They represent APT’s sixth new CNC machine investment during the past two years, bringing the company’s complement of Star lathes up to nine.
The latest machines were purchased by the turning specialist to satisfy growing customer demand for high precision parts, the new machines will be used primarily for the production of close tolerance stainless steel pins and collars used in security locks.
“The new SR-10Js are ideal for this work. They are not only capable of achieving the required surface finish and 10 micron overall dimensional tolerances on these items, but will also maintain fast cycle times and good tool life,” reports APT’s managing director, David Bailey.
“The production of up to 70,000 collars and pins per month will account for around 60 per cent of the new lathes’ capacity; with the remainder likely to be allocated to the production of stainless steel components for customers in the petrochemical, aerospace and precision instruments sectors.”
Both new lathes are equipped with FMB automatic bar feeders, enabling them to produce complex multi-operation components up to 10 mm diameter under ‘lights out’ conditions.
